Wrestling

Joe began his tenure at Cuesta without much time to recruit, but still pieced together a squad that finished third in the Western State Conference and 17th at the State Championships in his first year. Within two years Joe had led the Cougars to second place at the 2003 State Championships. The wrestling program boasts of 7 State Champions, 62 All Americans, thirteen conference titles and, one State Small Schools State Title (1980).

Joe is one of the most accomplished members of the Cuesta staff. He was a two-time NCAA Qualifier on his way to receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from Cal Poly SLO. While at Cal Poly he was named the 1994 Physical Education Major of the Year. He continued his wrestling career as a three-time Olympic Trial Qualifier and a member of the US National Team. In 1997, he earned his Master’s Degree from Cal Poly SLO in Kinesiology.  Joe was inducted into the California Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on October 24, 2021.  

Joe coached at Cal Poly SLO as an assistant from 1994 to 1997, when he moved to Palma High. He joined the Cuesta Coaching Staff in 2001 and has continued teaching fulltime at nearby Mesa Middle School. Joe has also served as the National Freestyle and Greco–Roman California National Team Coach in 2000.

Joe lives in San Luis Obispo.

The Dansby Record

            Overall                                 Conference                  Playoffs                                  

Year    win      loss      tie        pct       win      loss      place    state

2001    2          6          0          250      2          2          3^rd        17^th                 

2002    7          5          0          583      2          2          3^rd        16^th                 

2003    10        3          0          769      2          1          2^nd        2^nd       

2004    9          4          0          692      2          1          2^nd        17^th     

2005    7          5          0          583      1          2          3^rd        11^th

2006    3          5          0          375      1          2          2^nd        16^th

2007    5          7          0          417      2          1          1^st        16^th     

2008    3          5          0          375      2          2          3^rd        18^th

2009    6          7          0          462      1          2          3^rd        12^th

2010    10        4          0          769      4          0          1^st        5^th

2011    7          7          0          500      2          2          2^nd        15^th     

2012    5          8          0          385      1          3          4^th        11^th

2013    10        3          0          750      4          0          1^st        6^th       

2014    9          6          0          600      3          0          1^st        7^th

2015    10        2          0          833      4          0          1^st        13^th

2016    4          4          0          500      2          2          3^rd        8^th

2017    2          2          0          500      2          2          3^rd        20^th

2018    1          4          0          200      1          4          5^th        18^th     

2019    2          4          0          333      2          3          4^th        15^th

2020    ----      ----       ----       ----      ----       ----      ----        ----

2021   1           4         0           200       1          4         3rd        10th

2022   2           3         0           400       2          3         5th        14th 

2023   1           5         4           167       1          4         6th        19th 

2024   7           3         0           700       4          1         2nd        6th

Total    123       106     0           529       44        42        5  

Western State Conference Coach of the Year

2007    Wrestling       

2010    Wrestling       

2013    Wrestling

2014    Wrestling

2015    Wrestling